Write Right With These Cool Notebooks

If you’ve written in one notebook, you’ve written in them all, right? Only if you’re grabbing a basic spiral bound from the student union. But why would you settle for wafer thin pages and weak spines when there’s a world of top notch notebooks to scribble in? Here are nine options that will up your note taking game.

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Midori MD Notebook, A5

A Midori notebook is like a Craftsman house: modest, but extremely well made. Instead of a cover, this 176-page notebook is held together with traditional thread-stitch book binding and reinforced with cheesecloth tape. Its paper, made with 20 percent cotton pulp, is soft and durable. The result pairs a minimalist look with maximalist functionality: Open the notebook at any page and it’ll lie at a flat 180 degrees. $9.75

Credit: Amazon

A Midori notebook is like a Craftsman house: modest, but extremely well made. Instead of a cover, this 176-page notebook is held together with traditional thread-stitch book binding and reinforced with cheesecloth tape. Its paper, made with 20 percent cotton pulp, is soft and durable. The result pairs a minimalist look with maximalist functionality: Open the notebook at any page and it’ll lie at a flat 180 degrees. $9.75

Shinola Large Hardcover Notebook

Shinola’s hardcover notebook is simple but nearly perfect. Its 192 pages come in lined, graph, or blank paper, sandwiched between two linen covers dyed in a variety of gorgeous hues. The book has smyth-sewn binding, which means it’s sturdy but can also lay flat. It doesn’t have any special tricks, but in a well-made notebook, you don’t need them. $24

Credit: Shinola

Shinola’s hardcover notebook is simple but nearly perfect. Its 192 pages come in lined, graph, or blank paper, sandwiched between two linen covers dyed in a variety of gorgeous hues. The book has smyth-sewn binding, which means it’s sturdy but can also lay flat. It doesn’t have any special tricks, but in a well-made notebook, you don’t need them. $24

RocketBook

Maybe you’re the type who prefer keyboards to pens. No big deal–there’s a notebook that meets you in the middle. Digitizable journals, like this one from RocketBook, let you upload your notes to the cloud so you’ll never have to worry about losing your brilliant thoughts. Snap a photo of your musings, and the software will crop it before sending it to Dropbox, Slack, Google Docs, or a handful of other cloud applications. $27

Credit: RocketBook

Maybe you’re the type who prefer keyboards to pens. No big deal–there’s a notebook that meets you in the middle. Digitizable journals, like this one from RocketBook, let you upload your notes to the cloud so you’ll never have to worry about losing your brilliant thoughts. Snap a photo of your musings, and the software will crop it before sending it to Dropbox, Slack, Google Docs, or a handful of other cloud applications. $27

Pocket Department Notebook Set

One size notebook doesn’t fit all. Sometimes you’re carrying a backpack, other times all you have is a pocket. This set of softcover notebooks from Pocket Department comes in four different sizes—to fit in your back pocket, shirt pocket, backpack, and messenger bag—so you’ll never have to worry about stashing your notebook under your arm. $19.95

Credit: Princeton Architectural Press

One size notebook doesn’t fit all. Sometimes you’re carrying a backpack, other times all you have is a pocket. This set of softcover notebooks from Pocket Department comes in four different sizes—to fit in your back pocket, shirt pocket, backpack, and messenger bag—so you’ll never have to worry about stashing your notebook under your arm. $19.95

Observer's Notebook: Weather

A blank notebook is fine for wandering thoughts, but for people with more focused interests, this series of observer’s notebooks from Princeton Architectural Press will do the trick. Each book comes with enough empty pages to capturing free flowing thoughts, but they also have pages, tools, and infographics tailored to specific subjects. The weather notebook (pictured), for example, has diagrams on snowflake shapes, clouds, and rainbows. Flip to the back and there’s reference infographics on global air circulation and seasonal winds. Weather’s not your thing? That’s cool. There are notebooks for astronomy and trees, too. $17

Credit: Princeton Architectural Press

A blank notebook is fine for wandering thoughts, but for people with more focused interests, this series of observer’s notebooks from Princeton Architectural Press will do the trick. Each book comes with enough empty pages to capturing free flowing thoughts, but they also have pages, tools, and infographics tailored to specific subjects. The weather notebook (pictured), for example, has diagrams on snowflake shapes, clouds, and rainbows. Flip to the back and there’s reference infographics on global air circulation and seasonal winds. Weather’s not your thing? That’s cool. There are notebooks for astronomy and trees, too. $17

Rite in the Rain Large Hardcover

This notebook’s weatherproof pages were born out of necessity. When Rite In The Rain’s founder designed the first notebook nearly a century ago for his logging employees, he was trying to protect the pages from the rainy Northwest weather. Back then, he and his wife hand dipped the pages into a coating that allowed for pen and pencil. Today, it’s not such a bespoke process, but the pages are still perfect for wicking off rain… or iced coffee. $24.95

Credit: Rite in the Rain

This notebook’s weatherproof pages were born out of necessity. When Rite In The Rain’s founder designed the first notebook nearly a century ago for his logging employees, he was trying to protect the pages from the rainy Northwest weather. Back then, he and his wife hand dipped the pages into a coating that allowed for pen and pencil. Today, it’s not such a bespoke process, but the pages are still perfect for wicking off rain… or iced coffee. $24.95

Rainbow Index Book

Notebooks can get unruly, fast. That’s where dividers come in handy. Add a few to organize a notebook and suddenly your brain follows suit. This journal from London stationary shop Present and Correct does the hard work for you. Built-in dividers split the notebook into a rainbow of pastel sections, which makes getting (and staying) organized fun. Or at least really pretty. $21.50

Credit: Present and Correct

Notebooks can get unruly, fast. That’s where dividers come in handy. Add a few to organize a notebook and suddenly your brain follows suit. This journal from London stationary shop Present and Correct does the hard work for you. Built-in dividers split the notebook into a rainbow of pastel sections, which makes getting (and staying) organized fun. Or at least really pretty. $21.50

MoMA Snap It Up Journal

The most annoying thing about writing in a notebook is the pen. Where do you put it? If you’re carrying this 144-page notebook from MoMA, you have five options. Each book has a rainbow of elastic bands that wrap around the pages. It’s perfect for stashing pens, business cards, or other errant bits and pieces that you collect throughout the day. $15.95

Credit: MoMA Store

The most annoying thing about writing in a notebook is the pen. Where do you put it? If you’re carrying this 144-page notebook from MoMA, you have five options. Each book has a rainbow of elastic bands that wrap around the pages. It’s perfect for stashing pens, business cards, or other errant bits and pieces that you collect throughout the day. $15.95

Composition Notebook

It’s a classic for a reason. The composition notebook has been around for more than a century thanks to its cheap price, reliable build, and iconic cover pattern. The cloth-bound spine can wear down over time, and the paper is adequate, not exceptional. But its very mediocrity is exactly why it’s a perfect tool for throwing in a backpack and taking to econ. It’s not like you’re keeping those notes anyway. $5.50

Credit: Amazon

It’s a classic for a reason. The composition notebook has been around for more than a century thanks to its cheap price, reliable build, and iconic cover pattern. The cloth-bound spine can wear down over time, and the paper is adequate, not exceptional. But its very mediocrity is exactly why it’s a perfect tool for throwing in a backpack and taking to econ. It’s not like you’re keeping those notes anyway. $5.50